All anyone talks about is the heat. I tried to leave early but it’s much easier to ignore my alarm from a bed than my tent. I followed US 30 south into Oregon and then cut over a small hill to avoid going into Portland proper, I’m already coping with enough humanity and machinery as is. I was very appreciative of my Hydro Flasks today, consuming 8 liters of ice cold water. I didn’t drink it all, some I used on my head. I achieved my goal of getting over the first climb of note without succumbing to the heat, and took a room at the first hotel I came upon. I had more interesting thoughts to write down but they all dissipated once I found cold beer at the bar in the lobby. This Holiday Inn is nice, I’m glad to be here.
Taking the Lewis and Clark Bridge over the Columbia River
Cornelius Pass Road has a fairly gentle grade over the hill to Hillsboro, and no shoulder. But in the shade! Traffic was heavy, with large trucks tailed by long strings of cars and many times I would stop to let them all pass. I guess that is why my routing software wanted to insist I take a different, and steeper road. But I’m the boss
